Rotary engine.



PATENTBD APR. z8, 1903;

'Nok/26,6816.'

0. D. HoLT.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED FFB.l 12 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l'.

N0 MODEL.

N uns mms nu, Pumofmuo.. WASH ROTARY ENGINE.

AIjP'LIoATIoN FILED PEB. 12, 1903. No MODEL. v Y 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ihvirnn STATES PATENT', FFICE.

CRAWFORD D. HOLT, OF MURRAY, KENTUCKY.

RoTARi/.ENGINL SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters raten@No.'j726,6se, dated April 2s, 1903. Application led February l2. 1903:.Serial No. 143.120. (No model.)

To all whom it mctyoncen: l

Beit known that I, CRAWFORD D. HOL'r, a citizen of the United States',residingat Murray, in lthe county. of Calloway and State of Kentucky,have invented a newand useful Rotary Engine, of whichr the following Aisa specification. n

This invention relates to certain improve; ments in rotary engines, andhas for its prin?l cipal object to `provide anengineof simple andeconomical construction and in which the steam will be utilized to thefull'esttadvantage.

A further object of the invention is to conl struct a rotary engine ofthe impact type in which the area of the steam ports or channels isgradually increased toward the discharge ends of the ports in suchmanner as to obtain the full force of the impact and overcome thetendency of the steam to ricochet and issue from the port in theswirling stream caused by the frictional resistance of the walls of theports to the passage of the current.

A still further object of theinvention is to construct an impact-enginein which the movable member or piston is in the form of a ring disposedoutside a cylinder, or that portion of the engine corresponding to thecylinder, and containing the steam-chest, ports, and valve mechanisms. f

A still further object of the invention is to construct an enginecomprising but few parts, which may .be readily assembled,'and in whichthe parts may be as readily detached for purposes of examination orrepairs.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an engine of thisclass with an improved form of governing-valve, whereby the valve may beset by hand to stop the engine, to permit its movement in eitherdirection, and to regulate the quantity of steam used.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novelconstruction and arrangement of parts hereinafter defscribed,illustratedin the'accompanying drawings, and particularlypointed outintheappended claims, it beingA understood that 'varionschanges in theform', proportions`,size, and minor details of thestructure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a longitudinal sectionalelevation of a steamengine constructed inaccordance with the in-Vention. Fig. 2 isa transverse sectional elevation ofthe same onthe'line22 of Fig.l. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the engine. Fig. 4is a. detail` perspective view of the valve re moved.; I

I Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the' several figures of the drawings.

The cylinder or stationary member of the engine comprises a circularbody portion 1, having a centrally-disposed circular steamchest 2, tothe central portion of which is con` nected one end of a steam-supplypipe 3, extending lhrough a suitable guiding-opening in a bracket orsupporting-standard 4. The

cylinder l is provided with a plurality of oppositely-facing ports 5 and6,-a number of ports of each kind being employed and all extending fromthe central steam-cl1est 3 to the peripheral line of the cylinder. Theseports are arranged on substantially radial lines for a short distanceafter leaving the steam-chest and thence are continued on curved linesapproximately tangential to the peripheral line of the cylinder, and atthis discharge-point the area of the ports is slightly increased, so 'asto permit some expansion of the steam before the latter makes contactwith the wings or blades of the outer revoluble piston'. AThe bodyportion of the piston is further provided with exhaust-ports 7, one ofwhich is disposed between each two ports 5 and 6, and the severalexhaust'ports are extended to and communicate with an annular channel 8,formed in the front face of the cylinder. A portion .of the mainexhaustchannel is formed by an annular ring 9 of semicircular form incross-section and provided With suitable bolting-iianges, by which itmay be secured to the face of the cylinder.

l0 indicates suitable standards having bearf ings at their upper endsforthe' reception of a shaft 1l, the axis Of'Whichis coincident withthat of the steam-'pipev 3. Atofne end of the shaft issecuredthefcentral'portionof a revoluble piston l2. This pistoncomprises a circular plate having a peripherally-disposed ange, 13,fitting snugly over the periphery of the cylinder 1 and being held frommovement in one direction by the plate and in the opposite direction bya ring 14, fitting slightly over the opposite face of the cylinder 1 andbolted or otherwise secured to said piston.

On the inner face of the iiange or ring 13 are a number ofimpact-pockets 15, these being substantially V-shaped in form andpresenting two angular surfaces, against which the steam is forced as itissues from the steamports 5 and 6, one face or wall of the pocketsbeing utilized for revolving the piston in one direction, while theother angular face is brought into play while the piston is revolving inthe opposite direction, and in either case the steam entering thepockets escapes through the eXhaustports 7 after traveling a shortdistance, so that it is not necessary to carry dead steam around in thepiston, and thus retard its rotative movement. The shaft 11 also carriesa belt or balancewheel 16 and is further provided With a worm 17,intermeshing with a Worm-wheel 18 on the upper end of avertically-disposed shaft 19, having suitable. bearings in a standard20. The lower end of the shaft 20 extends within avertically-disposedguiding-opening formed in a box or casing at the upper end of a shaft21, and from said box or casing extend a pair of arms 22, to which arepivoted the intermediate portions of weighted governor-arms 23, and theupper ends of said arms 23 are pivoted to lugs 24, projecting from theshaft 19. The construction is such that on rotative movement of theshaft 11 acorresponding movement will be imparted to the shaft 19 andthrough the latter to the shaft 2l,the two shafts which make up thegovernor rotating' together, and as the speed increases the Weightedgovernor-arms 23 are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force in order toraise the lower shaft orspindle 21. The shaft or spindle 21 extendswithin a valvecasing 25, connected in the steam-supply pipe 3, and issecured to a valve 26, adapted to a suitable valve-seat Within thecasing, so that as the speed of the engine increases the valve 26 willbe closed or will be moved to a position corresponding to the speed ofrotation of the shaft 11.

The central steam-chest 2 is faced to form a seat for a cup or ringshaped valve 30, having a at circular portion provided with a peripheralring or flange in which are formed steam-ports 3l, and Within the ringor liange are rack-teeth 32, intermeshin g with the teeth of a segment33, mounted on a rock-shaft 34, which extends out through a stuffing-box35 in the wall of the steam-chest, the outer end of said shaft beingsupported in a bearing formed in a bracket 36. The rock-shaft 34 isprovided with an operating-lever 37, having the usual latch 37, adaptedto lock the segment 38, and in said segment are three notches forreceiving the latch, so that the valve may be adjusted and locked eitherin a central inoperative position or may be '726,ese

moved and locked in position with its ports 31 opposite either set ofports 5 or,6, or additional notches may be employed in order that thesize of the ports may be adjusted to increase or decrease the speed ofthe engine, although, as a rule, this may be accomplished by thegovernor.

In order to prevent excessive movement of the valve in either direction,the circular Wall of the valve is provided with a slot or notch 40 forthe reception of a pin 41, extendingin- Wardly from the Wall of thesteam-chest and serving by contact with the end Walls of the slot tolimit the movement of the valve in both directions.

When steam or other fluid is forced under pressure through a pipe ofuniform diameter, the frictional resistance of the walls of the conduitto the outer surface of the stream tends to cause an uneven flow, thecentral portion of the steam traveling at a more rapid rate than theouter portions adjacent to the wall, and this tends to a ricochetmovement, which impedes the iiow of the fluid on issuing from the mouthof the conduit. The stream is swirling when discharging into the openair and will be immediately expanded and the force of direct impactconsiderably reduced.

In carrying out the invention the Walls of each of the ports areinclined or tapering, so that the area Will be gradually increased fromthe inlet to the discharge end, to permit slight expansion of the steam,to reduce the frictional resistance to the stream, and to prevent thericochet or swirling movement of the current, so that the impact forceof the steam will not be lowered.

The exigirle is simple, compact, and may be revolved at an extremelyhigh rate of speed With the expenditure of but small energy, and it maybe driven by steam, air, or any other fluid under pressure.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. Thecombination in a rotary steam-engine, of the stationary body portionhaving a central steam-chest and provided With inlet and exhaust ports,of a revoluble shaft, a revoluble piston carried by the shaft andcomprising a ring having impact-pockets formed in its inner face, saidimpact-pockets presenting two angular faces against either of which thesteam may be forced, and means for controlling the dow of steam throughthe inletports.

2. The combination in a rotary steam-engine, of a stationary memberhaving a central steam-chest, a steam-port extending from thesteam-chest to the periphery of said member, said port being arranged ona substantially tangential line at a point near its discharge end andbeing of greaterarea at the discharge than at the inlet end, and arevoluble ring forming a piston, said ring being provided with internalpockets for receiving the impact of steam issuing from the ports.

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.radial lines for a short distance from the steam-chest and being thencecontinued on linessubstantiallytangentialto the peripheral line of thestationary member and at their discharge ends being ofslightly-increased area to permit expansion of the steam, and a pistoncomprising a revoluble ring having internal pockets to receive theimpact of the steam issuing from the ports.

4. The combination in an engine, of the stationary member having acentral steamchest and provided with two sets of oppositely-facingsteam-ports and with exhaustports arranged between the sets ofsteamports, an exhaust-channel arranged in one face of the stationarymember and with Which all of the exhaust-ports communicate, an annularring bolted to the stationary member and forming a part of theexhaust-channel, and a revoluble piston-ring having internal pockets toreceive the impact of steam issuing from the steam-ports.

5. The combination in a rotary engine, of the stationary member having acentrally-disposed circular steam-chest and provided with steam-portsleading from the chest to the` peripheral line of said member, a portedvalve-ring arranged within the steam-chest, means for circumferentiallyadjusting the valve-ring, and a revoluble piston-ring having internalpockets for receiving the impact of the steam issuing from thesteam-ports.

6. The combination in a rotary engine, of the stationary member,havingacentrally-disposed circular steam-chest, a plurality of sets of opposingsteam-ports leading from the steam-chest to the peripheral line of saidstationary member, intermediate exhaust-ports arranged at the peripheryof the stationary member at points between the sets of steamports, acircular cup-shaped valve lhaving a ported ring or `flange disposedWithin the steam-chest, means for adjusting the valve to place eitherset of ports in communication with the steam-chest or to closecommunication between the steam-chest and both sets of ports, and arevoluble ring-piston having intern al pockets for receiving the impactof steam issuing from said ports.

7. The combination-in asteam-engine, of Y the stationary memberlhaving acentrally-disposed steam-chest, a plurality of oppositelydisposedsteam-ports leading from the chest to the peripheral line of the piston,intermediate peripherally-disposed exhaust-ports, a ported ring arrangedWithin the steam-chest and forming a valve, a rack on said ring, agear-segment intermeshing With said rack, a

rock-shaft carrying the gear-segment, means for supporting and foradjusting said rockshaft, and a revoluble ring-piston having internalpockets for receiving the impact of steam from the ports.

' 8. In a device of the class specified, a stationary member having acentral steam-chest, ports leading from the steamchest,'a ported ringdisposed within the steam-chest and forming a Valve, an internal rackcarried by the valve, a gear-segment intermeshing with said rack, arock-shaft carrying the gear-segment, a stuinglbox through which saidrockshaft extends, a supporting-bracket having a journal or bearing forthe rock-shaft, an adj listing-lever secured to said rock-shaft, alocking-latch carried by the lever, and a notched segment for engagingthe latch and locking the valve in any position of adjustment.

9. The combination in a steam-engine, of a circular stationary memberhaving acentral steam-chamber and provided with exhaust ports, a Valvedisposed Within the steam-chest, means for adjusting the valve, a shaft,a piston comprising a flanged ring secured to the shaft, said ringhaving internal impact-pockets for receiving the steam from the ports,and a ring extending partly over the front face of the stationary memberand secured to said iiange, to thereby hold the ring and stationarymember in proper relative positions. I

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

. CRAWFORD D. HOLT.

Vitnesses:

J. Ross CoLHoUN, JN0. E. PARKER.

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